Time controlled switch



Dec. 12, 1939.

Kl M. HAMMELL TIME CONTROLLED SWITCH" 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 GH'MMMM Dec. 12, 1939. K. M. HAMMELL TIME CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed March 2, 1938 Dec. 12, 1939. HAMMELL 2,182,894

TIME CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed March 2, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 MINUTES HIGH um 3 YVUQW' Kemper /'Z Ham/We @azQQ w Patented Dee. V12, 1939' UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE] rum comaouan swrrcn Kemper M. Hammell, Toledo, Ohio, asaignor to The Swartzbangh Manufacturing Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 2; 1938, Serial No- 193,512

- 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a time controlled electric switch and is particularly directed to the mechanism employed to accomplish predetermined, timed closing and opening movements of a switch controlling an electric appliance.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism to close and open-'a switch controlling an electric simple and efllcient in operatic few parts.

circuit which is n and which has Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple mechanism to trol an interrupted rectilinear switch operator.

impart and conmovement of a Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple and efllcient means to enable an electrical appliance with which the timing device is associated to be pre-heated mined time.

for a. predeter- Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a front view of a tim er constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of the timer with the face removed, the clock work drive being shown diagrammatically; Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2 with the parts in set position; Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary views of the switch and switch operator showing the parts in "on" and of! positions, respectively; Fig. 6 igra perspective view of an opegator detent; Fig. is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing a portion of the operator controlling mechanism; Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are enlarged fragmentary sections taken on the line 88 in Fig. 3 with the switch operator respectively in set, on", and

"011 positions; Fig. 11 is an enlarged section on the line ll--li in Fig. 2; Fig. 12 is a circuit diagram; Fig. 13 is a fragmentary a modification which pliance to be placed on a high sectional "view of permits an electrical apheat for a predetermined length of time after which it is automatically changed to low heat; Fig. 14 is an elevation of the indicator for the high and "low heat switch; Fig. 15 is a section on line lB-IS of Fig. 13; Fig. 16 is a section on line iB-IG of Fig. 15; Fig. 17 is a view of the parts shown in Fig. 13 standing in another position, and Figs. 18 and 19 are circuit diagrams showing pre-heating arrangements.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the timer is shown mounted in aclock casing II, on a fr me including a front plate I8 and a rear frame plate I! spaced apart by posts l8 at the four corners of the frame. The frame carries any suitable chronometric power source such as a clock works for use in driving the mechanism. The minute hand 5 driven shaft of the clock works is designated 20 and carries the usual pinion 22 which drives an hour gear 24 through an intermediate idler gear 28 and an elongated pinion 28.

The present invention is particularly con- 10 cemed with a device having a setting mechanism including similar on" and off units driven by the clock mechanism which are manually set to operate at predetermined times. Pinion 28, besides meshing with hour gear 24 of the clock 15 mechanism, meshes with two similar gears of the' same size as the hour gear and designated 30 and 32 so that these latter are rotated at the same speed as the hour gear and hand of the clock. The gears 30 and 32 are carried by parallel shafts 20 34 and 33 respectively which extend through the clock casing and terminate at the rear in setting knobs 38. The gears are free to rotate and to slide on their respective shafts, and the pinion 23 is so constructed that each gear may slide for a considerable distance on its shaft and remain in mesh with the pinion.

The shafts 34 and 38 each carry indicating hands 40 on their front ends which cooperate with dials 42 and 44 on the face of the' clock to impart certain information as hereinafter set forth. Intermediate its ends, each shaft 34 and 38 carries a cam follower including projecting a pin 43 and 43, respectively. The gears 30 and 32 are provided with projecting cam surfaces 50 and 52 adjacent their hub portions and cooperating with the cam following pins 46, 48, respectively. Instead of being completely annular, the cam surfaces 50 and 52 are'cut away to provide sharp shoulders as shown in Fig. 7 so that when the followers reach a predetermined point in their rotation, a relative axial movement between the respective followers and gears will be permitted.

The timer gears 30 and 32 are urged axially of the shafts 34 and 36 on which they are mounted by elongated leaf springs 54- and 56 which are fulcrumed on the front frame plate It adjacent the lower ndthereof, preferably at the posts i8 which serve to fix the front frame plate in place. A detail of one of the leaf springs is shown in Fig. 6 and itwill be seen that each spring is provided with a hole 58 through which the shafts 34 and 33 may pass and, in addition,

2 is provided at its extreme upper end with a rearwardly extending detent 88, or 6i.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, it will be seen that the present invention is particularly con cerned with the operation of a switch including a stationary contact point 52 and a movable contact point 84, the latter being carried at the end of a spring arm 86 fastened at one end. A button of insulating material 88 is carried by the arm 68 and is urged thereby into the path of a. reciprocable switch operator which is preferably formed as a U- haped yoke 18, one arm of which constitutes a. switch operating cam 12. It will be seen from Figs. 3, 4 and 5 that in one position of its rectilinear movement the arm I2 will cam the switch points to closed position.

The opposite arm of the yoke I8 is disposed immediately behind the front frame plate IS in a plane parallel to the plane of the frame plate. The front armof the yoke is best shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 and includes a body of sheet metal 14 preferably of a resilient nature from which side I latch members I6 and 18 are formed by severance from the body 14. Each latch member is provided with a relatively wide slot 88 and the latch member 18 is formed with an inwardly projecting lug 82 spaced a predetermined distance from its upper end and the latch member 18 is provided with an inwardly projecting lug 84 spaced a greater distance from its upper end than the distance which separates the lug 82 from the end of latch member 18. The front frame plate It is slotted to permit the entrance of detents 88 and 8| of the two leaf springs 54 and 55 so that, as shown in Fig. 3, the extreme inner ends of the detents may the slots 88 in the path of the two lugs 82 and 84. Pins 13 and 15 are fixed to the front frame part and serve to guide the yoke 18 in its rectilinear movement by engaging in slots 11 and 19 in the front leg of the yoke. These pins may also be used to determine the extent of movement which may be imparted to the yoke.

The yoke 18 is biased to move upwardly by a suitable leaf spring 88 which is pivoted at one end to one of the frame posts l8 and which has its free and engaging the right portion of the yoke. When the leaf springs 54 and 56 are compressed and forced rearwardly into the slots 88, if the yoke is moved downwardly the'detent 88 of the spring 54 will engage the upper surface of lug 82 and thus retain the yoke in its lowered position. If at the same time, the detentiii of the leaf spring 58 is moved into the opposite slot, release of the yoke from engagement between the lug 82 and the first detent will permit the spring 88 to move the yoke only until lug 84 strikes the detent 8! of spring 58. It is only when spring 58 is permitted to move out of the compressed position that the yoke can move upwardly to the limit of its movement.

The yoke 18 may be operated from the exterior of the casing by means of a suitable push button 88 by which the user can force the yoke down against the tension of leaf spring 88. An indicating flag 82 bearing the indicia set", on, and 083" extends forwardly and downwardly. with respect to the yoke 18 and cooperates with a window in the clock face to indicate the position in which the yoke is standing, andhence the condition of the switch contacts 82 and-B l.

In operation, the timer will be associated with a suitable clock works driven mechanical or electrical power source such as spring 8 (Fig. 2). The user sets the on" indi be forced into cator by turning knob 38 until t e hand .8 a

by any desired.

sociated with the on dial reaches the point at which it is desired to have the appliance turned on, and in a similar manner, sets the hand associated with the off dial to indicate the time at which the appliance shall be turned off. As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, if at 9:12 a. m. the user wishes to turn the appliance on at 11:00 a. m., and off at 12:88 m., thehands will be moved to the positions shown. This movement of the shafts 34 and 35 has moved the projecting pins 48 and 48 of the cam followers on to the lands of the associated cams 58 and 52 so that the. timing gears 38 and 32 are moved rearwardly against their associated leaf springs 54 and 58, forcing the detents of the latter into the slots of the front leg of the yoke I8.

The user next pushes down on push button 88 so as to place the timer parts in set position shown in Figs. 3 and 8. In moving the yoke 18 downwardly the lug parts of the front leg 14 of the yoke moves past the detents 68 and 8| and in so doing the leaf spring side portions 18 and 18 deflect inwardly so that the downward movement of the yoke may be accomplished easily. Whenthe yoke and push button have reached the lower limit of their movement, as determined by pin 13, the two detents will have entered the slots 88 and detent 58 will engage the upper surface of lug 82 so as to retain the yoke in its lowered, set position.

The clock movement will then rotate gears-38 and 32 until the cam surface 58 moves to such an extent that its shoulder portion moves under the associated pin 56 so that the gear 38 is free to move forwardly on the shaft 38 under the pressure of the leaf spring 54 which moves outwardly and disengages its detent 88 from the shoulder 82 of the yoke. The yoke then springs upwardly as shown in Fig. 9, under the influence of spring 88 until the detent 8| interrupts the rectilinear movement by engaging the upper surface of stop lug 84. As previously explained the switch points 82 and 54 are now in closed position, having been cammed to this position by the rear leg of the yoke 18 (Fig; 4)

The parts will remain in the on position until the timing'ge'ar 32 has been driven to such an extent that the sharp shoulder of its associated cam surface. 52 rides under the follower pin 88 and permits the pin to enter the reentrant portion of the cam so that the gear may move forwardly on the shaft. As the gear 82 moves forwardly under the influence of its associated leaf spring 56, the detent iii of the latter moves away from the uppersurface of the lug 84's and thus permits the yoke I8 to spring upwardly to the off" position shown in Fig. 18. It will be appreciated that since the gears 38 and 32 move at the same rate as the hour hand of the clock, that the interim between the on and of! movements above described will be one hour as indicated by the hands 48 which are fixed on their respective shafts in definite relation.

While. the cam tion to follower pin 48 to permit the switch parts to move to the off position,

so that the follower pin 48 will move out of the reentrant portion of the cam and thus force the gear 38 and its leaf spring 54 rearwardly so that the detent 88 moves into the slot 88 beneath the lug 82 and in position to engage the bottom of the slot when the yoke springs to off position and in this way accomplishes a limiting movement of the yoke. However, in the event 52 has been moving with rela- I the cam 58 assnciated with the on gear 38 has been moving and I02.

that the "on and 01! movements are timed too closely to'allow the detent 60 to move back into its slot 00, the pin I3 will serve to limit the upward movement of the yoke after the final movement of the yoke has taken place.

If the timer is associated with an electrical appliance such as a roaster or an oven, it may be desirable to provide means to change a circuit connection after a predetermined time as, for example, to increase the current input to .the appliance during the first few minutes of operation over the current desired for continued operation. Thus in the case of a roaster, it may be desirable to operate the same on the high heat position forperhaps 30 minutes and then reduce the current to the low heat. In this manner the heat absorption of the roaster parts may be rapidly accounted for and the contents thereof brought rapidly to cooking temperature. Once this temperature is attained, a relatively small current is required to maintain it. The present invention provides a simple and eflicient mechanism to accomplish this end which includes, as shown in Fig. 13,oppositely disposed stationary contacts I00 and I02 respectively, which may be connected to the high and low resistors of the appliance, respectively, or in any other suitable -manner to provide thenecessary heat gradations. A circuit diagram of these parts is shown in Fig. 18 in which the appliance is designated generally A and includes a high heat resistor R1 and a low heat resistor R2 connected respectively to high and low contacts I00 An alternate arrangement is shown in Fig. 19 in which the appliance A is provided with a thermostatic control T. In this event, the high contact I 00 is connected directly to the resistance R: of the appliance so as to shunt out the thermostat during the pre-heating period. The low contact I02 is connected to the thermostat T for normal operation.

A cooperating movable contact I04 is disposed between the stationary contacts and mounted on the end of a lever I063which is pivoted intermediate its ends to a carrier I08. At its opposite end the lever I06 is connected to an operating rod IIO which projects through the front frame part I6 into the path of the leaf spring 54 of the "on setting mechanism. In this construction main switch arm 86 has been reversed over the position shown for example in Fig. 11 so as to be hinged at the opposite end. When the cam and its associated follower have forced the leaf spring 54 rearwardly, the leaf spring acts to impart movement to the lever I06 and to close the movable switch contact I04 against the low stationary contact I02. However, since the main switch is open at this time, no current will flow to the appliance. When the cam rotates its recessed portion rides under the follower pin 40 permitting the leaf spring and timer gear to move forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 17. As above described, the main switch points are then closed and at the same time the lever I06- pivots about itscenter to place the movable contact I04 in direct connection with the stationary high contact I00. This movement may be v caused by reason of a reversely bent leaf spring H2 which has one end fixed and its oppositeend engaged with the lever I 06 atits fulcrum.

Continued rotation of the cam 60 relative to the follower pin 46 will move the gear and leaf spring rearwardly as the inclined surface of the cam moves under the follower. This relatively slow rearward movement of the spring is im'--f parted to the rod I I0 and turns to the switch lever I06 to move the contact I04 from the high to low position. The transition will, of

-course, mean that for the length'of time necesinterrupted. However, this may be adjusted by varying the distance between the contacts and may be cut to a very few minutes if desired.

In order to regulate the length of time that the contacts will remain. closed on the high side, a means to vary the position of the fulcrum of lever I06 is provided and may include a screw II4 threaded into a stationary frame part and bearing against a portion of the lever at its inner end. The tendency of the lever being to move rearwardly in Fig. 13, it will follow closely the inner end of screw I I4. Thus the position of the actuating rod. IIO carried on the end of the lever may be adjusted by turning the screw H4 in or out. As shown in Fig. 1'7, when the cam 50 has The lever I06 and its switchpoint I04,are

placed in circuit by reason of the spring II2 being connected with the stationary contact 62 of the main switch.

A dial I I6 (Fig. 14) may be placed on the rear of the timer casing to cooperate with a pointer carried by screw II4 to indicate the length of time the switch points will remain on the high" contact before being moved.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. An apparatus adapted to control a multicircuit electric appliance including a main switch and a double-throw switch in series with said main switch, 'a clock mechanism, a setting mechanism including a setting unit driven by said clock mechanism and having a normally released spring, a detent carried by said spring, an actuadapted to move said double-throw switch from the position in which it stands when said detent is released to the position in which it stands when said detent is engaged after a predeterminedperiod of time.

2. An apparatus adapted to control a multi-' circuit electric appliance including a main switch and a double-throw switch in series with said main switch, a clock mechanism, a setting mech-' anism including a setting unit driven by said clock' mechanism, means to operate said main switch from said setting unit at a predetermined time, an actuating rod for said double-throw switch disposed to be operated by said setting oted switch arm connected to said rod, and means to vary the position oi? the pivot point of said switch arm whereby the operating period of said double-throw switch is adjusted.

' 3. An apparatus adapted to control'a multiheat electric appliance including a main switch and a double-throw switch in series with said main switch, a clock mechanism, a setting mechanism, means to operate said main switch from said setting mechanism, and means to operate said double-throw switch from said setting mechanism.

4. An apparatus adapted to control a multiheat electric appliance including a main switch and a double-throw switch in series with said main switch, a clock mechanism, a setting mechanism including a cam means driven by said clock mechanism andliaving a reentrant portion and an inclined portion immediately thereafter in the direction of rotation, means to operate said main switch from said setting mechanism, and means to operate said double-throw switch from said setting mechanism whereby, when the reentrant portion of said cam means is operating said double-throw switch stands in one position and is moved to stand in its other position by said inclined portion of, said cam means upon continued movement of said clock mech- 5. an apparatus or the class described, a switch for an electric circuit to be controlled, 9. reclprocaole cam operator for said switch, latch means associated with said cam operator including a plurality of spaced latch lugs, means urging said cam and said latch means to a released position, normally disengaged detent mechanisms to hold said cam andsaid latch means in a plurality o1 engaged positions by engagement with said lfigs, setting means to move each of said 'detent mechanisms into engaging positions, and

clock driven means to move a portion of said setting means to release each of said detent mechanisms in predetermined sequence.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a switch for an electric circuit to be controlled, a reciprocable cam operator for said switch, a latch plate connected to said cam operator andreciprocable therewith, said latch plate having a plurality of laterally extending latch lugs, means urging said cam and tion, normally disengaged detent mechanisms to hold said cam and plate in a plurality of engaged positions by engagement with said lugs,

setting means to move each of said detent mechanisms into engaging position, and clock driven means to move a portion of said setting means to release each oi said detent mechanisms in predetermined sequence.

plate to 9. released posi-' '7. In an apparatus of the described, a,

switch ior an electric circuit to be controlled, a reciprocable cam operator for said switch, a substantially U-shaped yoke, one arm 02 which is provided with a raised cam to operate said switch and the other arm of which constitutes a latch plate, latch lugs formed from said latch plate, means to bias said yoke to a released position, normally disengaged detent mechanism to hold said yoke in a plurality oi predetermined positions against the forceof said biasing means by engagement with said lugs, setting means to move each or said detent mechanisms into engaging position, and clock driven means to move a portion of said setting means to release each of said detent mechanisms in predetermined sequence.

' KEMPER M; HAMMEIL. 

